Expedient Iron‐Catalyzed C−H Allylation/Alkylation by Triazole Assistance with Ample Scope

Triazole assistance set the stage for a unified strategy for the iron‐catalyzed C?H allylation of arenes, heteroarenes, and alkenes with ample scope. The versatile catalyst also proved competent for site‐selective methylation, benzylation, and alkylation with challenging primary and secondary halides. Triazole‐assisted C?H activation proceeded chemo‐, site‐, and diastereo‐selectively, and the modular TAM directing group was readily removed in a traceless fashion under exceedingly mild reaction conditions.     

A model of Piron's preparation-question structures in Ludwig's selection structures

We give a model of the basic Jauch-Piron (JP) approach to quantum physics, i.e., of preparation-question structure (with four basic axioms and without axioms C, P, A), in terms of Ludwig's selection structure; in the latter structure the primitive notion of individual sample of a physical entity is formally described (without making reference to any probability concept). Once we interpret Piron's concept of question in Ludwig's context of a selection structure, we find that there is no difficulty in formalizing notions such as performable together questions; moreover, results such as = or ()= can be formally proved. We develop the theory along the lines of the JP approach; the set of JP propositions is derived and it turns out to be a complete lattice, as happens in Piron's theory, but with a different physical interpretation of the lattice operations. Finally, we study some connections between the standard Ludwig foundation and our approach.     

Multidimensional gas chromatographic determination of paraffins, olefins and aromatics in naphthas

In order to cope with the increasing demand for gasoline and the need to reduce environmental impact for sustainable development, refineries have installed refining technology by introducing cracking, reforming, isomerization and alkylation. The standard EN 228: 2004 outlines the specification that gasoline, deriving from the blend of several fractions, must have for use in modem piston engines. Naphtha is one of the products from distilling crude oil that can be used as starting material in the reforming process whose derivatives, which are a fraction of gasoline, depend on the composition of the naphtha. Knowledge of the naphtha composition thus enables to provide the final composition of the products of reforming, the efficiency of the plant and also provides information about the crude oil used. In this paper some naphtha samples were analysed by multidimensional gas chromatography. This technique allows in a single analysis a good separation of the hydrocarbon types and within each hydrocarbon type a good carbon number separation.     

A chemometric survey of three sites in Muggia Bay (Northern Adriatic Sea): meteorological effects on heavy metal patterns in surface coastal waters

Within research on the quality of the waters of the Gulf of Trieste, this study on patterns of trace metal contents in the inner part of the gulf (Muggia Bay) discusses data of Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn, determined voltammetrically (DPASV), and collected in three sites with a 10-day frequency over the period of one year. Two of the sites lie inside the dam system which protects the harbour of Trieste, while the third one is situated outside for comparison purposes. Principal component analysis pointed out different metal patterns inside and outside the dam system; PC scores were related to meteorological information: rain plays a major role in conditioning the estuarine inner site: wind stirring action was detectable for the outer site. Both univariate graphics and canonical correlation analysis suggest a diffuse source for Pb, probably atmospheric deposition.     

Dispersion polymerization of vinyl monomers in supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of drug molecules: A one‐pot route for the preparation of controlled delivery systems

The polymerization of 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone in supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of ibuprofen as a model drug was investigated as a new one‐pot process for the preparation of polymer‐based drug delivery systems (DDSs). The composites were prepared at 65 °C and P = 31–42 MPa by changing the initial concentration of the drug and the concentration of a crosslinking agent and that of a hydrophobic comonomer. The effects of these parameters on the performances of the polymerization and on the in vitro release kinetics of ibuprofen were studied. In all the experiments, part of the drug was entrapped inside the polymer particles and dissolved more slowly with respect to the pure compound. Copolymerization with methyl methacrylate was the most effective route to obtain a DDS with sustained temporal release of the drug molecule. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7429–7446, 2008     

A concrete procedure for obtaining sharp reconstructions of unsharp observables in finite-dimensional quantum mechanics

We discuss the problem of how a (commutative) generalized observable in a finite-dimensional Hilbert space (communtative effect-valued resolution of the identity) can be considered as an unsharp realization of some standard observable (projection-valued resolution of the identity). In particular, we give a concrete procedure for constructing such a standard observable. Some results about the “uniqueness” of the resulting observable are also examined.     

Tracing the biological origin of animal glues used in paintings through mitochondrial DNA analysis

We report the development of a suitable protocol for the identification of the biological origin of binding media on tiny samples from ancient paintings, by exploitation of the high specificity and high sensitivity offered by the state-of-the art DNA analysis. In particular, our aim was to molecularly characterize mitochondrial regions of the animal species traditionally employed for obtaining glues. The model has been developed using aged painting models and then tested to analyze the organic components in samples from the polychrome terracotta Madonna of Citerna by Donatello (1415-1420), where, by GC-MS and FTIR spectroscopy, animal glues and siccative oils were identified. The results obtained are good in terms of both sensibility and specificity of the method. First of all, it was possible to confirm that Donatello used animal glue for the preparation of the painted layers of the Madonna of Citerna and, specifically, glue derived from Bos taurus. Data obtained from sequencing confirm that each sample contains animal glue, revealing that it was mostly prepared from two common European taurine lineages called T2 and T3. There is one remarkable exception represented by one sample which falls into a surviving lineage of the now extinct European aurochs.     

Anion recognition in water with use of a neutral uranyl-salophen receptor

A new water-soluble uranyl-salophen complex incorporating two glucose units has been synthesized. This neutral derivative shows noteworthy binding affinity for fluoride in water thanks to the Lewis acid-base interaction occurring between the metal and the anion. Such interaction is strong enough to overcome the high hydration enthalpy of fluoride. Moreover this complex effectively binds hydrogen phosphate and exhibits remarkably strong association for nucleotide polyanions ADP(3-) and ATP(4-).